BJP Challenges Congress to announce its PM Nominee

With the election date nearing, the prominent parties of the Indian Government are geared up for a head-on collision with each other. Both the Congress and the BJP are readily pointing fingers at each other in hopes that the other will succumb to their tactics.

In efforts to root out the BJP from the major electoral state of Madhya Pradesh in the upcoming assembly elections, the Congress party launched a compelling and gruesome attack on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan (MP) and his cabinet ministers at a public rally held in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday September 19th, 2013.

Congress leaders including those in the All India Congress Committee (AICC), general secretary Digvijaya Singh and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia blamed the BJP-led state government for depriving the state of its mining resources and turning it into a capital of crime and corruption. The safety of women was also a key point in the backlash the state suffered. Earlier in the year, the Swiss-gang rape – where a 39-year-old woman was out on a cycling trip with her husband and camping out at night, close to a forested area was raped in Madhya Pradesh – made headlines. This however did not lessen the burden for the incidents that occur under their rule.

On the other hand, Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s diktat has left senior Congress leaders terrified. According to them, the unauthorized step Gandhi is taking is causing hindrance in the selection process for the Congress Party. The Congress vice-president has demanded an assurance from these leaders that their chosen candidates will win the election. If they don’t, the leaders will be held responsible and face the music. Elections are slated to hit the states of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram by Mid-November.

BJP’s President, Rajnath Singh retaliated by questioning the Congress on their candidate for Prime Minister. BJP president Rajnath Singh on Thursday night challenged the ruling party to name its nominee for next year’s election. “The people want to know who will be Congress’s candidate (for PM). The Congress must announce the name at least six to eight months before the elections so that the people can make an informed decision,” said Singh. “The question now is who will be Congress’s prime ministerial candidate,” Singh said talking to reporters here.

With tensions rising in India, the general public is anticipating a good and healthy electoral battle.